2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arizona
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Arizona. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $40,977. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Arizona Western College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
A rank of #3 makes Glendale Community College Glendale Az one of the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $15,996. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Eastern Arizona College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thatcher. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,552 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Mesa Community College, which ranked #5. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $13,750. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
South Mountain Community College landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,825 ten years after entry.
Northern Arizona University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,700 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $28,793. That is a strong return on a $19,700 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #8 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,203 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $41,436. That is a strong return on a $21,203 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arizona earned the #9 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bryan University Los Angeles came in at #10 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Bryan University Los Angeles is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,219 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,223 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $32,969. Set against $16,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Canyon University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $34,723. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Prescott College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,490. Students borrow a median of $27,230 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Prescott College earn a median of $42,966 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,230 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Ottawa University Surprise landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Surprise, Ottawa University Surprise is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,880. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Ottawa University Surprise generally make around $30,426. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
